Reaction to Wolfowitz's resignation

Reuters Staff

4 Min Read

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, under fire for arranging a pay and promotion agreement for his companion, who was employed by the bank, announced on Thursday he will resign effective June 30.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN TONY FRATTO

“Paul Wolfowitz is a good man who is passionate about the plight of poor people in the world. We would have preferred that he stay at the Bank, but the president reluctantly accepts his decision.”

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL

“Mr. Wolfowitz’s actions have impeded the ability of the World Bank to carry out its critical mission of alleviating global poverty. His resignation will help to restore the integrity and credibility of the World Bank, both of which are central to the bank carrying out its mission.”

U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY HENRY PAULSON

“I intend to move quickly to help the President identify a nominee to lead the World Bank going forward. I will consult my colleagues around the world as we search for a leader who will continue to focus the Bank on creating opportunities for the world’s poorest by assuring that resources are directed to effective, efficient, well-coordinated projects.”

INTERNATIONAL REACTION

MARGARITO TEVES, PHILIPPINE FINANCE SECRETARY, SPEAKING ON

ROLE OF WORLD BANK

“Their first and primary goal is to reduce poverty. When Wolfowitz came in the focus was on anti-corruption moves, to me there is a correlation between good governance and reduction in poverty... but some people say this is not a goal by itself, but rather an instrument to attaining a higher goal. But the focus should be on the higher goal. The messages, the communication should continue to be poverty.”

BERNICE ROMERO, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF OXFAM INTERNATIONAL

“Wolfowitz’s resignation shows that even the office of the president has to play by the rules. The U.S. and other rich countries must now show that they are serious about good governance by allowing the next head of the Bank to be appointed based on merit through an open, accountable process.”

DANIEL MITTLER, GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ADVISOR

“Cronyism has led to Wolfowitz’s downfall, but the credentials needed in the next president to clean up the World Bank must not only be personal integrity, but above all expertise in sustainable development.”

WORLD BANK EMPLOYEE REACTION

DANIEL OWEN, COORDINATOR OF COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

“I just returned yesterday from a mission in West Africa where I was beginning to feel most acutely the impact of the crisis ... in terms of the legitimacy we have in advocating good governance. We’ve got a job to do now in rebuilding our credibility on those issues, and it’s going to be easier now that Wolfowitz is gone.”

CAROLINE KENDE-ROBB, SECTOR MANAGER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

“I think it creates a great opportunity for us to open up a fair and transparent process for the selection of the next president. We’re relieved the situation is over.”

POLICY EXPERTS REACTION

NANCY BIRDSALL, PRESIDENT OF CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

“This whole mess illustrates the need for change in how the nations of the world oversee the bank. To succeed in leading any change, the next World Bank president will sorely need the legitimacy and broad support that only a widely accepted, merit-based selection process can provide.”

BRUCE JENKINS, POLICY DIRECTOR, BANK INFORMATION CENTER

“The World Bank’s housecleaning has only just begun. The institution must now look beyond recent events involving Paul Wolfowitz to implement critical, broader governance reforms.”